Dashman's harness look ahead - June 27

Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.

The Queensland Constellations heads to Redcliffe on Saturday where arguably the strongest Cup night program has been assembled.

Rivalries reignite across the card with a number of intriguing battles to take place.

In the Princess of the Bay, Rylee Rhayne Bow secured the barrier draw advantage over Chynchilla.

In the Derby, Rubira has drawn perfectly in gate one, with Fate Awaits set to follow him every step from the inside second line barrier.

Can Aroda secure back-to-back Redcliffe Cups?

Aroda needs to overcome a 10-metre handicap this year.

The first four over the line in the Group 1 New South Wales Oaks will all clash again in the Redcliffe Oaks.

GET ON

Our Goat at Redcliffe on Saturday night - race nine, number seven.

Placed in his two starts since arriving in Queensland, the Bernie Hewitt-trained four-year-old looks to have found the right race. He will need some factors in his favour but has been going well enough to capitalise.

DOES FATE AWAIT?

The 2025 Redcliffe Derby is arguably the best field assembled in the history of the race.

Rubira, Fate Awaits and Path To Greatness look the main contenders chasing Derby success.

All three will clash again next week, with the trio having each secured a start in the Group 1 The Rising Sun.

Rubira was a first-up winner in Queensland for the father-and-son training combination of Mark and Nathan Purdon when he defeated Fate Awaits.

Rubira worked to the front soon after the start and held off a gallant Fate Awaits who was forced to sit parked.

Coming up with barrier one, Adam Sanderson will again take the reins aboard the three-year-old Rubira.

However, if they opt for an all-the-way victory, this time they will have the Grant Dixon-trained Fate Awaits stalking their every move.

The 2024 Australian two-year-old of the year is drawn to start from inside the second line and will be keen to follow Rubira every step of the way.

Path To Greatness draws awkwardly in gate six with Trista Dixon to take the reins.

Path To Greatness will look to frank the form of his Queensland Sun victory.

Impressive last start winner Sweet On Lexy for the visiting Bathurst-based Bern Hewitt will be out to display his credentials from gate two.

CUP HISTORY BECKONS

The Redcliffe Cup looks one of the most open in recent years with Aroda looking to defy history.

Only one horse has ever secured successive Redcliffe Gold Cup victories.

Hexus completed the double in 2003 and 2004, with the Grant Dixon-trained Aroda looking to become just the second.

Securing the standing start feature last year from a front tape, the Dixon-trained five-year-old will need to overcome the 10-metre handicap in 2025 to make it successive victories.

Another Dixon-trained runner, Free Thinker, has drawn the inside lane off the front tape and will look to go one better than his second to Aroda in the Flashing Red handicap a fortnight ago.

Regazzo Di Tilly has been installed as the early favourite for the Cup.

However, Regazzo Di Tilly does find an awkward position on the second line of the front mark.

Pete Said So overcame a 30-metre handicap last start at Redcliffe in breaking the 2280 metre track record.

Jack Chapple drove the gelding on that occasion while Rob Morris will reunite with the veteran.

OAKS A GREAT BATTLE

Cool And Classy should appreciate a return to her own age and sex after a credible performance in last week’s The Hayden.

Cool And Classy has never raced at Redcliffe previously and draws awkwardly in gate five.

The Grant Dixon-trained filly did trial and qualify on 'The Triangle' as a two-year-old.

The Michael Stanley-trained and Luke McCarthy-driven Soho Americano is listed as the favourite after securing barrier one and was a winner last week against older mares.

The nine-time winner will be looking to overturn a second-place finish behind Cool And Classy from the New South Wales Oaks.

Finishing third in that same Oaks was the Rickie Alchin-trained Sugar Pie Honey.

Sugar Pie Honey is set to jump from barrier three this week at Redcliffe should the emergency not be required.

POWER PRINCESS

The Princess of the Bay has been a successful addition to the Redcliffe Cup program in recent years.

The mares class record has been broken at the past two editions of the race and the 2025 field look set to again push that mark.

Rylee Rhayne Bow has secured the coveted gate one barrier and Pete McMullen will take the drive aboard the mare this week.

Rylee Rhayne Bow has not been ideally suited in the past two weeks in The Queensland Sun and The Hayden.

A return to mares’ company should be the right tonic for 'Leader Pete' as the mantle of Queensland’s best mare faces its latest iteration.

Bragging rights in recent months have been a seesawing tale, with Rylee Rhayne Bow, Chynchilla, The Vicar Of Dibley and Thesuandthemoon all putting their hooves forward for the title.

Chynchilla has one hand on the title following her dominant last start victory.

However, Chynchilla will need to overcome the outside second line gate for trainer Donny Smith to get a second hand on the title.